Being a scholarship student raises the standard of a student in any school or college. But, not in Maitri Elite College. Here, students with scholarships dread the day when their secret of being a scholarship student will be revealed. Because then, they will become an automatic victim of the biggest bully of the college, Ananya Khatri.

Unfortunately, Sneha is also a scholarship student. She got admission to this prestigious college on the basis of her terrific merit. She was proud of herself. She couldn't even believe it when she got the confirmation mail of her acceptance to M.A in geography in the college.

However, her happiness dropped to zero volts when she saw the condition of students who got admission on scholarship. They were bullied to the extent that they had to leave the college on their own consent...forced consent. The students belonging to rich families tried to have some fun with those who couldn't afford to go against them.

"One more red card." Sneha's only friend in the college, Jyoti, said as she placed her phone on the canteen's table.

Sneha looked at the screen of the smartphone and frowned. The photograph of a first-year boy with a red card in his hand was circulated widely in the college's informal chat group. It was the routine. Whenever a scholarship student got the red card, their photo would be circulated in every chat group so that, anyone can bully the victim.

The anti-ragging law seemed to fail in this college because no one went against the elite families...especially Ananya Khatri... the younger sister of Viraj Khatri.

"What's wrong with her now? Why has she started this red-card nonsense?" Sneha asked Jyoti as she felt concerned for this young boy who would now be bullied to the extreme.

"Have you seen the Korean drama, 'Boys over flowers'?" Jyoti asked.

"No." Sneha answered as she sipped her coffee. It was their free hour. So, they decided to have something in the canteen to freshen up. There were only a few other students in the college canteen.

"In that drama, a group of boys, I forgot their names, give this red card to their schoolmate. And then, the entire school bullies that particular student. Ananya seems to be repeating their logic." Jyoti explained.

Sneha gave a look to her friend.

"God knows what problem she has with the scholarship students!" Sneha mumbled to herself.

"It's good that she doesn't know that we are of the same category. Or else, she wouldn't spare us either." Jyoti sighed.

"I doubt she even knows that we share the same class of EVS." Sneha chuckled. EVS or environmental science was the only subject that they both shared with Ananya.

"Shit. She is here." Jyoti muttered as she looked in the direction of the canteen door. Sneha turned around to look at her too and realized that she was not alone. Along with her were two of her very close friends.

"Oh! Our little boy is here!" Came Ananya's cool voice.

Sneha and Jyoti turned in the direction where Ananya was looking and their faces grimaced. It was the same boy whose photo was in circulation...the red card holder...Ananya's new target. The boy was sitting alone in the chair beside them. They didn't even notice him earlier until now.

Sneha's eyes widened when she saw Ananya walking in her direction.

"Move." Ananya told Sneha and Jyoti in an irritated manner.

Sneha would have taught her a lesson right there. She was a blue belt in karate after all. But, she refrained. She didn't want to come under the radar. Her plan was to pass the exam peacefully and without any trouble. And, engaging with a girl like Ananya was the ultimate definition of trouble. Her brother was the infamous mafia leader and everyone including Sneha knew it.

Sneha and Jyoti took their stuff quickly and vacated the chair and table that they were occupying. They moved to the table in the extreme corner, near the door.

Sneha watched how Ananya threw vulgar comments at the new boy. It hurt her to see the boy, who must be about 3 years younger than her, simply sit there and accept the unacceptable comments. However, Sneha had had enough when Ananya stood from her seat and threw water on his notes.

"Now, if you won't talk to me, I will have to do these things to get your attention, right!" Ananya said and then she laughed along with her friends.

"Sneha, let's go." Jyoti quickly held Sneha's wrist and pulled her out of the canteen.

"Are you out of your mind? Were you seriously going to interrupt her?" Jyoti scolded Sneha as they walked towards their next lecture.

Sneha sighed.

"He is so young! He was so scared!" She muttered as she recalled the boy's face.

"I know it hurts, Sneha. It hurts me too...to see her bully innocent students like this. But, we can't become her victims! We have already passed one and a half years in secret. Let's just clear these 6 months too and we will be able to get our degree without any problems! Please! You know who her brother is and what he is capable of!" Jyoti reminded her.

Sneha had seen Ananya's bother, Viraj, a few times in college. He came to pick his sister sometimes and even came to meet the teachers when necessary. But, she never had the misfortune of meeting him directly or talking to him. She knew that he was always armed and that he was always followed by at least three armed bodyguards. The view alone scares her. She belonged to a humble family. For her, living in peace was of utmost importance. She didn't want to know what Ananya or her brother did for a living. She was happy with her life.

"I really hope someone teaches her a good lesson, someday. I wonder if her parents know about her sick attitude!" She cursed.

"Let's not talk about her." Jyoti suggested.

"Hmm. How are your tuitions going? Any new student joined?" Sneha asked.

"Nope. But, I am content with 9 students. It's good enough to pay the bills. How is your library job going on?" Jyoti asked.

"Cool. Not many people visit. So, I am free almost the entire shift. I complete all my assignments during my shift itself. The librarian doesn't complain. Thankfully!" Sneha answered with a smile.

"You are lucky!" Jyoti commented. "But, you should shift to a different job, Sneha. Working till 9 pm is not safe, you know!" She added.

"I know. But, it's important. I can't ask papa for every paise. He already has so many EMIs to pay. Anyway, I always carry pepper spray with me. And, what have I learned karate for!" She defended herself with a chuckle.

"Oh yes! Your karate!" Jyoti commented. "Someday, you will be in trouble with your karate skills." She joked.

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.

.

"No, no! Please, no!" Sneha heard a petite feminine voice from the next alley.

"Help! Someone! Please help me!" Came the next cry for help.

Sneha turned her bicycle in the direction of the voice, without thinking about her own safety. As she entered the alley, she saw three men around a girl. One was pulling her handbag while the second one held her hands firmly. The third one however was trying to remove her clothes.

She didn't need to be told twice of what their intention was. She quickly took out her pepper spray while cycling near them. The sound of her keychain alerted the men and they turned in her direction.

Sneha internally facepalmed herself for keeping such a noisy keychain with her. It attracted all the attention to her. Parking the cycle a few feet away from the men, she stood.

"We have another treat, today!" One of the men commented and she realized that they were quite young. One even appeared to be of about 18 years old.

"Get away from her." Sneha said firmly. However, she only earned a humorous laugh from the men. She glanced towards the girl, but she already had covered her face and was crying. She hated this. Girls should always learn self-defense so that they could beat immoral men before crying.

"How about you come to us?" The guy who held the girl's hand said.

Sneha wondered why the alley was so vacant. It was only 9:30 pm!

"Let me tell you. I have this spray here which can literally make you blind for hours. Plus, I am well versed in fighting. So, if you like your limbs, just go away and I won't harm you. Go." She gave the last warning.

"And, let me tell you. We are three and you are...one. We have knives that can easily take your life in a second. So, either come here like a good girl and throw the spray away." The third guy, who appeared like the leader said. They were mere thieves, she could tell. Because one of the guys was busy searching the girl's bag.

"That's not happening." Sneha said as she walked closer to the men, cautiously.

"You hold her hands and make sure that she doesn't run away. Till then, we will get this one for us." The leader told the guy who had the bag.

Sneha analyzed the situation. She could only harm one man with her spray at a time. So, as she did that, the other guy will most probably take away the spray with force while protecting himself. And, then, she will have to use her fighting skills on the other two.

And, as she had speculated, she sprayed the first guy exactly in his eyes while the other guy hit her hand so hard that the bottle fell from her hand. She faced the other guy head-on. She didn't wait for him to attack. She threw a quick sidekick and hit him on his head. As the man fell, she hit his chest so hard that he threw all colourful profanities onto her. She pulled his hair and hit it on the ground so that he sees the stars.

"Sorry! Sorry! Please leave me!" The man managed to speak.

"Next time you touch a woman, make sure she gives her consent, you moron!" Sneha said dramatically and stood up.

This was like a dream for her. She had always wanted some action. She had visualized many times how she would use her skills and whether she would be successful. It came true today! She was so proud of herself that she couldn't wait to go home and narrate the story to her parents and sister.

In the heat of the moment, she didn't realize that there was another man until she heard running footsteps. She looked behind her to see the third guy running away...with the girl's bag.

The guy who got hit with the pepper was still crying loudly as the second guy managed to take him away from the scene. Finally, when she was satisfied that the stupid men had left, she turned to face the girl to help her.

"Ananya!" Sneha gasped as she recognized the girl.